A win over Brighton on Saturday would not only be the perfect medicine for the defeat at Fulham and give the sell-out crowd something to smile about, it will also give Boro a better chance of winning promotion through the play-offs.

That's what history suggests anyway with the team who finish third in the league proving to be much more successful in the three-game end of season Premier League shoot-out than those who finish fourth.

Last year it didn't prove to be the case with fourth-place QPR stunning Steve McClaren's Derby, who had finished third, in the final at Wembley, although McClaren and his out of form Rams must still wonder how 'Arry's Hoops came out on top that day.

For the side that finishes third, the mentality is heartbreak on missing out on an automatic place as opposed to cock-a-hoop at the fact they've made the play-offs, or so the story goes.

But recent history in the Championship suggests the opposite.

In the past nine seasons in the second tier, five teams who have finished third and just missed out on automatic promotion have gone on to win the play-offs.

West Ham United were firm favourites to run away with the Championship in 2012.

That rarely happens in this league.

And although they finished the regular season in third place, two points behind Reading, they got the job done in the play-offs ensuring the top three ultimately won promotion.

West Ham celebrate in 2012 (Image: Action Images)

And it was the same the campaign previous.

Easy on the eye Swansea City finished third but rather than mope about reflecting on the missed opportunities of automatic promotion, went on to win the play-offs, beating Reading 4-2 in a blink-and-you-miss it final.

Have momentum, will challenge tends to be the golden rule of play-off football.

Crystal Palace chewed that theory up and spat it back out again two seasons ago. Ian Holloway's side set the pace for long stages of the season but their final day win over Peterborough was their first victory in 10 as they staggered over the line.

The Championship being the Championship - the Eagles then went on to lift the play-off crowd having finished fifth in the regular table.

It was Holloway's second taste of play-off glory in four years after his Blackpool side crept from absolutely nowhere in the league into sixth place - somehow - and continued their form into the play-offs.

But in 2008 (Hull), 2007 (Derby) and 2006 (Watford), it was the team who finished third who, having all enjoyed excellent seasons, capped the campaign off with play-off delight.

Since the formation of the Premier League in 1992/93, eight of the 22 play-off winners have come from third and just three from the fourth finish.

A further seven sides have gone up from fifth spot and the remaining winners were promoted after sneaking into the last available place.

After such a nip-and-tuck campaign, it seems a bit of an anti-climax going into the final day with the two automatic promotion places and the three relegated sides already decided.

It's down to the four teams still fighting for a play-off place to keep the neutral entertained. Thankfully, Boro have done enough to ensure they don't have that weight on their shoulders.

But if you think the league is looking tight this season, it's nothing compared to 1993/94 or the following year when just three points separated the first and last play-off places.

Seven points currently separate third and sixth, slightly tighter than the average of 8.4.

While QPR did the business last season, you have to go back to 1998 for the last time a team who finished fourth went on to win the play-offs - Charlton, who beat Sunderland in that famous final.

The game against Brighton is a chance to finish the season in style, bounce into the play-offs on the back of a convincing and impressive performance, leave the fans counting down the days until the semi-final second leg at the Riverside and to keep a grip on third place.